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Congress Takes on Unilateral Europe

A carbon tax on U.S. airline passengers.

October 27, 2011

Who says bipartisanship is kaput in Washington, D.C.? Last week the House passed a bill that would bar U.S. airlines from complying with a European Union directive that requires all airliners flying to Europe to buy carbon-emissions permits. Sponsored by Transportation Chairman John Mica of Florida, the bill sailed through on a voice vote with the support of nine Democratic co-sponsors. Even the White House is on board.

The European rule, which will go into force in January, takes the extraordinary step of requiring...